I’ve Just Seen a Face
my first selection
I become more than I am
for the contest
I sing without the prompts
and make the lyrics mine.
I'm happy to have the day off.
Neon lights shine in the window
as other patrons watch
and someone throwing darts
pauses to take a look.
Free deli sandwiches
and chips on a table—
a special night to partake.
My second, Lady Madonna,
a slice of life for some.
I take a sip of my drink.
A former manager watches,
and I must admit I can never
be truly myself at the store.
The DJ says we all are winners
although only two will move on.
I receive a pat on the back
after the audience lost themselves
while watching me.
I had sung two songs
but someone sitting at the bar
said my music called for another.
A light in the parking lot
shines a star.
If I have a kind of superpower,
it’s recalling names of folks I haven’t seen in years.
I forget new names within the hour;
it’s like the brain reboots and the memory clears.
It gives folks a thrill to think you know ‘em,
but trading short for long might not be a thing to seek.
I have a certain sense about this poem:
it seems identical to one I wrote last week.
Paridolia ADHD my poetry superpower
ADHD is known as a neurodivergent disorder
It's something I've endured my whole life
It was thought I was just being awkward, not quite
Yet internally I was going through torture
I couldn't understand why I couldn't just comply
Or keep my mouth shut when It applied
Thirty years is a long time to battle your own mind
And I couldn't answer the question as to why
But now I can, it is just who I am, yes I have ADHD
But that prognosis doesn't solely defy me,
It's just a little part, that sometimes you might see
But it also gives me the ability to see what you don't see,
Granted it has its floors my mind is far from harmonious,
But occasionally I'll see with such clarity its pure utopia,
Like when I write poetry the creativity that comes over ya,
It's seeing the love in little things occasionally and I believe that's known as paridolia.
#iwriteitall
I smell a mountain goat she says
halfway through our wild walk.
Sure you do I almost gloat,
I won't indulge such silly talk.
But, sure enough 'round that next curve
it's standing there and looks at me as if to say
Hey there Bud, you've got some nerve,
and I ...
I do not doubt her sense of smell unto this very day!
Inspired by a photo and commentary at Scot Rubey Photography on Facebook
I would like the power to instill empathy in every human being I meet
Giving them beautiful smiles and hand waves as I walk down the street.
I would let the magic of kindness and love filter into their heart
I know it is not everything, but you have to admit, it would be a start.
Every robber, rapist and murderer I meet would rethink an evil intention.
I doubt the residual effects I would even have to slightly mention.
They would curb their dastardly deeds.
I would be planting the seeds, yes, just planting the seeds.
Killing would stop, because empathy and killing do not go hand in hand.
I think it would be so grand, we could have an empathy band.
This fantastic super power might instill world peace.
Imagine the good that could come out of this. All wars would probably cease.
World-wide appreciation would happen naturally if I had this superpower.
I would use daily from my waking moment until three a.m., the witching hour.
My superpower.
It is like a desert.
The power uses all the water.
And doesn’t let anything grow.
So I’m like a villain in that way.
I am the epicenter.
And as my power spreads,
It creates a forcefield.
And inside is a void.
They run away from me.
And they don’t even understand why.
They don’t even understand that I am a void with powers and I’m like a psychopath.
I smile, but they still sense it.
From a distance, I smile.
An evil smile.
And that’s how I’m a secret villain.
There's a boy at school, he's SO quiet.
But sometimes he'll speak-up and say something that's so funny
A couple of times I've tried to talk to him, after class,
to tell him how funny I think he is, but he practically vanishes.
Kim & Bili (My two BFF) think he's super shy. I find funny very attractive.
Now, even in our dull virtual class he can say something that fractures - even the teachers think he's funny - they never get mad.
When this lock-down is over I'm going to lasso him and tell him.
We might have to work like a posse, corral him from three sides like a skittish colt.
I'm not going to tell him I find him attractive - duh.
But I will tell him that if someday he's a famous comic,
like Seinfeld or Chappelle, I won't be surprised.
There aren't enough compliments in the world - I love
those delightful moments, when I can surprise someone
with the miniature perfection of a complement.
Does he see the enchanting power of his humor?
Maybe he won't care *shrug* but I'll wake up that
morning to the thrill of the chase and just doing
it will make my day.
I have little control
over the world's travesties
I have power
over little more
than my thoughts
my words my actions
so put away that sharp tongue
so as to never sting or slash
best choose to be kind
so as never to regret
the smile not given
the kind word or
compliment not granted
preferring
to love
wholeheartedly
and spread kindness
as best I can
AP: 1st place 2021, 3rd place 2021, Honorable Mention 2021
Posted on March 4, 2020
They wanted to be superheroes
They took their inspiration from the beauty and the softness of a flower
and understood their gentleness
and their kindness
is their superpower.
Majestically standing at the podium just so
These men of power with prestige and honor
Making promises; can they be kept?
While our father and sons
March into the face of death
What can they offer us?
What will they do
Come the day of reckoning
Are we the fools
Whose heads will be the example of
Leadership gone mad and drunk with
An uncontrollable power?
Too big to handle alone
Playing God and the Devil at once
Who will we choose
To march us into Freedom,
Peace and redemption
Choose wisely and be particular
How many caskets do we need to fill?
How much land is there left to bury?
Innocent lives with loved ones left behind
To prove the strength worthy of being
The One True Omnipotent Superpower
There is only one Lord God Almighty
But if we keep this up, we shall never
See the day we meet Him